ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 383 



in the Saxon-gothic ftile, containing feven apartments, with an 

 ambulatory before them. 



On the north fide of the market-place is a range of buildings, 

 in which is the town-hall, entered by a flight of fteps, where the 

 feffions for the county, and elections of the knights of the fliire, 

 are held ; a tower over it, with a large clock. 



The market is on Saturdays. It hath four annual fairs, viz. 

 1 2th May ; the laft Monday in July ; the firft Monday in October ; 

 24th December. 



In the evening before the fair, on the laft Monday in July, the 

 Howard of the court, and the bailiiF, of the Duke and Dutchefs of 

 Northumberland, walk from the caftle to the crofs in the market- 

 place, attended by pcrfons who owe fuit and fervice ; that is to 

 fay, the townfhips of Chat ton and Cbillingham, 4 men ; Cold-Marton 

 and Fowbury, 4 men ; Hctton and Hezelngge, 4 men ; Fawdon and 

 Clinch, 4 men; Alnbam and Alnbam-ivoor, 2 men; Tugball and 

 Su>inboe, 2 men ; Long Hoiighton and Denwick, 4 men ; Lesbury and 

 Bilton, 2 men ; Lyham and Lybam-hM^ one man ; with the prin- 

 cipal inhabitants of the borough of Almvick. The bailiff pro- 

 claims the fair in the name of the Duke and Dutchefs of Nor- 

 thumberland. The men who attend for the feveral towns in fer- 

 vice are obliged to keep watch at all parts of the town the night 

 before the fair, which has been a cuftom for time immemorial. 

 The next day the tenants of the Duke and Dutchefs within the 

 barony of Almvick attend at the caftle, when the fteward and 

 bailiff proceed from thence to the market-place, and proclaim 

 the fair as before. They then go to the head of Clay-port^flreet, 

 and return to Clay-port-tower, where the fair is proclaimed again;, 

 and from thence to the caftle. The townfhips above mentioned- 



are 



